PLANS to build a new house in the grounds of a listed cottage in Cranleigh have been thrown out on appeal.

After Waverley Borough Council rejected the proposal to create a new plot in the garden of Old Cottage in Wanborough Lane the applicants appealed against the decision.

But now planning inspector, Stuart Reid, has sided with the council.

The plan was to sub-divide the garden of Old Cottage, which is listed Grade II, and build a new three-bedroom house on what would be a relatively narrow plot.

“The dwelling would almost entirely fill its plot width, where at present there is a spacious open setting to the listed building, framed by the adjoining copse,” says Mr Reid in his report.

“The narrow plot, with the cramped dwelling proposed for it, would be out of keeping with the general character of the area.”

He says the listed building would be harmed by the proposed development, which Mr Reid describes as “unacceptably assertive when seen against the modest charm and appearance of Old Cottage”.

*In a separate case, another planning inspector has thrown out an appeal by the owners of a house in Blackheath.

Martin Andrews has ruled that plans for a two-storey extension to the house at Chestnut Corner in Blackheath Lane were inappropriate in the green belt because the increase in floorspace would be too large.

*The owners of Bottle Cottage on the A281 at Smithbrook, near Cranleigh, have appealed against the refusal of Waverley to grant permission for an extension following demolition of part of the existing house.

The appeal will be dealt with by way of written representations.

*An informal hearing will be held at Waverley’s council offices in Godalming on January 14 into an appeal against the authority’s refusal of permission to build a new house on land at Connnemara in Cranleigh Road, Ewhurst.